A year of directing dangerously

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How many times have you defended the arts to your family, your friends, or to casual conversationalists on public transportation? I’ve done it. We’ve all done it. The problem was that I was getting tired of doing it. I was worn out. If you work in the theatre in some capacity you have uttered those words: “The arts are important.” But, why? The platitudes that one normally uses to defend the practice of an artistic life were sounding dangerously hollow to me. I said them so many times in nearly every facet of my life. They didn’t mean anything to me anymore. I was worried I’d made a mistake. Maybe I should heed my father’s advice and reconsider law school? Maybe I should start thinking about getting a job that offered a retirement package and health insurance that included a dental plan?